Educational device



Sept. ll, 1928.

F. J. SEWALL EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed March l. 1928 N VEN TOR. E cldsomwull.

Patented Sept. il, 1928,

UNiT-E Sl'rs FRANK JUIDSON SEVALL, OF COLUMBIANA, OHIO.

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.

Application filed March 1,

This invention relates to educational devices and aims to provide means of improved character and construction for use in aid of teaching and especially teaching the fundameiitals of mathematics in the elementary brenhee The invention will be best understood upon description `with reference to the appended rawingg wherein a constructional =embodilll ment thereof is illustrated.

le Said' drawings;

Fie l is. .a perspective View f one form.. 0f the device showing how a mathematical equation isvthlereby presented to vievv for instructive purpeses;

Fig. 2 a side elevation of the device ShOWn partlyv section to disclose its inte rior construction; and

Fig. 3 is a front eievation ofthe device with cover broken partly away and revealing one of die Operable paris meviifi i0 position COH- cealin a factor of the equation from view.

In t 1e illustrative construction, the device embodies a Container 4l of rectangular form having a front panel or cover 5 removably secured thereto. `Said panel is formed with vyindovvopenings 5a in number and relation corresponding yvith the factors of yproblematical equations to be presented to y'iew for in l" structive purpoSfS In .this instance only lthree of isuchopenings are shown adapting the rdevice to presentation of simple problems .or equations Eof three factors; Seid Openings beine ,iiispoei ,in .iiliiieiiieiii @Cross the upper cndfof ,the panel.

The panel also bears appropriate indicia including symbols or signs between the window-,openings therein to indicate the mathematical 4,relation of the equation factors 'to appear Within said openings. [n this instance the multiplication symbol -ap pears between the rst and second openings while .the equality Symbol appears bf@- ,tyveen the `second and Ythird openings, thus providing for a simple erigxainple multiplication. YVhen ,examples in division, subtrac- `tion, addition, percentage, etc. 'are to be given, ,the symbols between the Window-openings are appropriately changed, While equations oi' a greater number of -factors are provided for' by increasing the number or" said openings.

xIehiiid the .vindovwopenings in the panel, separate closure slides 6 are shown movable independently under a common brace .7 by' 1928, Serial No. 258,42()l means of attached knobs 8 extending outwardly through guide-slots 5,5"in the'lovvr end of the panel. Said slides are formedat their upper ends with openings ff adapted tro reg ster with said Windowfopenings'ivlien i raised position, While their lbvver ends ing gradually away from the panel are each given a flange to providel an edg'll adaI 'ted to function similarly t thewpavvlm it" a ratchet-mechanism 'as hereinaffteru'ap pear. Above said openings in 'the'lupper ends or" the slides, interrogatoy marks are applied to appear iiil the Window-openings ot' the panel when the slides are inl lovvee'd position. Accordingly, When'all `the-slides are closed, the indicia appearing iii andbe`- tween the .vindovv-o'peniI-lgs'l` Will1 read z across the panel.: l lyleans for bringing desired indicia opposite the openings in the pani are 'providedan endless travelling-member Qshown under tension supported overwrillers 10,"the lattei` boing idly rotatable on pintles or shafts I1 1 journaled in the Walls the' container atop'- posite ends thereof. In thilsrinstance said member comprises a plurality dfi metallic slats or strips hinged or'Heiribly 'connected together longitudir'iallyi interlengaging oppositely turned edges, thereb 'forming an endless shutter-like'v structure presenting equi-spaced l transverse ledges or lshdulde'r's which may be engaged by the loiverdendso'f tl??? aforesaid slides the' manner of a ratrhet mechanism, for'advancing' the member over its rollers. i Indicia of desired character or value is applied Athe slats of member in y such relalation as to appear Within the openings in the' panel as the member is advanced vvi'th its slats consecutively qopposing'said openings Ito thereby present a series ofaeciirat'e equations or problems 'for instructii'fel purposes." For example, .the Slat Opposing' fifi ,cpeii'iliig iii the illustrative d'eyice bears the figures@ B 72 spaced to appear resp'le'ct ively init'he first, second and third ,openings in mathematical relation Vto the symbols therebetween accordingly present the equation 9 85572.

Each of the slats .bearsindiciapresenting an example or eqnatin different from the others. Some may bear indicia vpresenting equations in algebra, ifaictoijing, percentage, etc., such as (X Y}` (XLY and B R P as indicated in'dott'ed lines in i 'When brei t opgedane' gli-c' 'ripiena ings in the panel, the indicia of the above two examples will read (X Y) (X-Y) Xz-YZ and B R=P (said letters respectively standing for base, rate and principal).

lf the device is used for teaching spelling, the symbols between the openings are omitted and the slats then bear letters spelling out different words such as Cat, Rat and Dog. When desired to present equations (or words) of a greater number of :factors (or letters), the number of the panel-openings, closure sides therefor and indicia units (figures or letters) carried by the slats to underlie the openings are increased accordingly.

The device is operated in a very simple manner.. Let it be assumed that all three of the slides 6 are in lowered position, while the slat of the travelling-member 9 bearing the figures 9 8 72 opposes the windowopenings al in the panel. As hereinbefore stated, the indicia in and between said openings will accordingly read 2 X It the slides over the first and second of the openings are then raised by their lrnobs 8, in which position they normally remain under friction, the indicia in and between said openings will read 9X8= l. Similarly, if the slides over the first and third, or over the second and third are raised and the remaining one is left in lowered position, the indicia in and between the window-openings will read respectively 9X 2:22 and 8=72. The slides may be operated freely up and down to open and close the window-openings and accordingly make visible or conceal the figures therewithin, whereby the same equation may be presented in several different ways or problems for instructive purposes.

In order to advance the travellingmember and bring a successive slat opposite the window-openings, either of the closure slides is moved downwardly with simultaneous inward pressure, causing its lower or pawl-like end to engage against the underlying ledge or shoulder of a slat at the lower end of the travellingqnember and consequently push it downwardly, thereby advancing the member over its rollers for the extent of one slat, the breadth of the slats and the length of the slots 5a in the panel being substantially equal. Thus, the travelling-member may be-moved by one or all of the slides to bring a successive one of its indicia-bearing slats opposite the openings in the panel, and the slides may be moved up and down freely without advancing theV travelling-member until one of them is again pressed inwardly during downward movement so as to engage against the longitudinal edge of a slat at the lower end of said member.

The novelty and utility of the device adapted to operation in the manner described for presenting a series of mathematical equalions or words for instructive purposes, will be readily appreciated.

As the device may be constructed in various ways and numerous modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is not intended that it shall be limited by the appended claims to the specific construction shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A teaching device comprising a container having a side Jformed with windowopenings andbearing indicia including mathematical symbols betwen said openings; idling rollers in opposite ends of the container; an endless travelling-member supported on said rollers and. embodying a plurality of slats hinged together and bearing indicia visible through said openings as they are moved opposite thereto; and slides movably disposed between said openings and said travelling-member, having openings near their upper ends registerable with the aforesaid openings in the container side when in raised position and flanges at their lower ends providing pawl-like portions engageable with parts of the travelling-member during sliding movement in one direction for advancing said member a predetermined extent over said rollers.

2. A teaching device comprising a container having a side formed with windowopenings and bearing indicia including mathematical symbols between said openings; idling rollers supported in opposite ends of the container; an endless travelling-member under tension mounted over said rollers and embodying a plurality of slats hinged together longitudinally and bearing indicia visible through said openings as they are moved opposite thereto; slides movable selectively between said openings and said travellingmember, having openings near their upper ends registerable with the aforesaid openings in the container side when in raised position and flangesat their lower ends providing pawl-like portions engageable with projecting edges of the slats of the travelling-member during lowering movement for advancing said member over said rollers a predetermined eXtent; and guides in which said Slides are operatively movable.

3. A vteaching device comprising a container having a side formed with windowopenings and bearing indicia including mathematical symbols between said openings; idling rollers journaled in opposite ends of the container; an endless travelling member under tension supported on said rollers and embodying a plurality of slats connected together longitudinally by inter-engaging oppositely turned edges and bearing indicla visible through said openings as they are moved consecutively opposite thereto; slides movable selectively between said openings and said travelling-member; having openings near their upper ends registerable with the aforesaid openings in the container side When in raised position and flanges at their lower ends providing paWl-like portions engageable with edges of the slats of the travellingmember during downward movement for :1dvuneing said member over said rollers a predetermined eXtent; guides in which said slides are frietionally movable; and means for independently operating said slides.

In testimony whereof I afHX my signature.

FRANK JUDSON SEVVALL. 

